Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-22
Written for The EVENING STAR
THE SPEECH | DID NOT MAKE.
BY WOOD RUFF CLARKE.
Author OF "klatawa" the Youths Companion $500
Prize story.



don..tt the claim. / quite ready to return.
Two years away from a razor, two years OF bacon,
b-ans. SvrGp and canned corn; two years OF
strl--lc with souF dough: two years spent at an
a..i.Gie where 10 takes six hours boiling 10 cook
potatoes astonishing phenomenon. to every ten
deriOOsl, cured my mining fever for evermOre.
7 i0lnef That great procession which the rail-
road never advertise the Disguised ones returning
e.-f or weSt from those silver lOdeS with twisted
back bones and empty pockets.
Homo again. learned TO my amaZement that
Cousin Brooks one OF the most stupid boys that
ever J2Icd over his books, had just become COVER
nor Of TIM state
when went west to find opening for my
money, Brooks was SedaIe hard working lawyer,
never supposed he would earn his salt.
After brcOniuC tOerably wei! acquainted with
mother again. and the boys and making brief vain
gust Tor employment. tOoh run up TO the capt.
tGl day So Brooks He greeted me cor
daily. lie always did ike Inc. suppose because
] used 10 help him out in his lessons, between
furnishings although upon leaving school bore n
reLnOTSrf;l feeling that had been unmerciful 10
poor BROOKS
He was in his Official apartment at the state
room, lofty room with 1Tescoed ceiling, huge
plate windows, elaborate furniture, library and
elegant writing desks. He was seqUeStered by
aEte-TDOmS and guarded Dy uSherS, but l went
sIrIig h. through 10 his presence without check,
while the clerks stared in surprise. This was be-
catl,. / so reSpmbled Brooks that came upon
them Ike apparitiOn. for he and were OF SINH
lar form behind the same ancestral nose.
Greeting over:
And how are the mines, Chug:"
They aTe y i'll there"
..You have made YOUR fortune west, hope?~
NO. The west did pretty well i didn't The
west kept all took there"
lie looked at me dOubtfully. Brooks never quite
understood my way OF talking. Yet speak clear
classic English, always.
You haven't lost every cent, Chug?S
''uh no II can sell my mime for hundred
thousand / am all right"
Is II good for anyJ thing"
'.NOt that know OF.
''Humi" Brooks was fine looking fellow large
pOrtiy, benignant. A ktnd-hearted man some
What changed since saw him last He had aged
greatly, far more than /, notwit hstanding all the
viciSsitudes and bacon 1 had undergone. He
seemed more serious, more father1y, and appeared
tired He looked ut NE with something OF the Old
appeal In his face
stay here and help me- Chuy / had to dis
charge my secretary yesterday He was sehemer
more anxious TO gain outside friends than To do
bis duty by me. want somebody who is reliable
II pays two thousand a year. Probably / can put
some perQuisiteS In your way Also
As a kndnesS to Brooks consented.
He led me over 10 handsome work desk charged
with innumerable pigeon holes, rolls of red tape
seal stamp, wax and other vital elements of gov
ready burdened the slope
sat down before half ream OF selected mail,
my brief instructions being for this heap, "Say
No 10 every want, but make friend of every
writer This mountainous task strained my early
sabbath school training severely. However
evolved a general letter applicable to most of
these cases and submitted &c TO BROOKS. He was
good enough TO praise its concilatOry tact and
gracious denial, and proceeded TO duplicate the
form and scatter No broadcast.
An hour Later, Harold, our clerk, appeared at the
door.
Here IS the prison delegation,
Brooks put down his documents and straight
ened up With great concern.
LET me see, what do they wanto Chug there
Is = MEMORANDUM on your desk somewhere"
searched and found the appointment Slip
Tues, III a. H., Cedar county delegation to urge
aIneliOratlon OF cOnvictS-
Brooks ran his hand through his hair
why DO they bother me nOwI Why can't they
torture those fellows in the legislature and after
they get IN their bill come and ask my approyaIs
Why consume my time for an object so remOteP
What SHALL do with 'eIn, Chug? / have more
work here already than can finish In good sea-
SON"
-Do!r exclaimed, rising energetically and feel
Ing something OF the old Scorn for him sswhy
IMAM, let EN- in say felloW-ciIiZenS am proud
10 meet you, glad 10 see the OF our Criminals
eniiSting the sympathy OF such able advocates,
and any thing can do TO farther the good work be
assured shall rejoice TO do At-Ihe same time all
government moves by routine and 7 must com
mend You 10 The usual procedures. Secure legisla-
i've action enecting the ends you aim at and as
1ei sure the object Will be rstifabie Shall take
pleasure In signing Your bill That's all Remain
nom your desk Let them Know you are I'm a
hurry, although courteous, and get nd OF em
quick
-Cedar county" unused Brooks .udonr tpouv
anybody up there likely u be in this delegation
Chug, you-bok :. COED deal Ike me. You may ne
celSe ther people and act ex-governor"
NO, thank Your. said l. boising 70 NV desk and
Catching up the pen.
1Aallo9" cried Brooks with slow sarcasm "you
can brag but not perform, e4l?e'
ihls blunt reply slung me- 1t was quite unlike
the BroOks OF my schoOldays- i used TO pride nv
hun Ind HE lacking nerve. or my old ascendency
would vanish wholly. SoI promptly rose again
s. ~ ean receive The delegation II you really
"s.S ne 70, buookS, out
~All nght, Chug, you may receive them. Treat
tnem well Tnat VIII give me time to go over this
j Was somewhat agitated- To confront these
fellows face 10 ia.7setre every instant more iis;
greeaDie 10 me- For two years had rustpd in the
mines Probably this delegation Contained preach
erS, EWy~rS pTacJced SpOkeSmen 10 answer
whom "ouid require mere than mere audacity.
bSl harold stOoi looking on perpieXed and Brooks
Aiiii'siI waS p1er1ng up from his papers with a
covert smile. put bold face on ii.
Her, Harold, he'd Hc put these chairs in the
hand 40 o'>-
Harold looked at-Brooks with establishment and
protest N-''
You win need the chairs, of course. he said
NC, III make EN- stand Ill soon get nd OF the
PRISON delegation" cried, emphatic;lIIy BrookS
nodded and HAroid unwi1ingly Joined in rernox
Ing estIy chaif 10 the inner apartment, save the
ONES which Brooks and had occupied
''No% bring =" said i, and while. Harold was
sOhe l tATt" on my coat united my neck-Dand
pct Iay watch In open sight upon the desk. and
tooh q pee freshly dipped in ink.
III let these fellows know that time Is prectous
herr. SAID des;islVely, ioOsin, down at Brooks
., m ei0or oHe ninS IRON The ante-room swung on
its hinges Harold appeared upon the threshold
lie gave a LOOK of disInay Is ne saw me In nv
snlft-s-eese1- DUt St0O1 erect and firm Thera
Was rostGng OF silks, prophetic fragrance
SOFT mur:nurlng Voices and then a beyy OF Iadies
Powered suddenly into the room. | stared du,nh'
IOunGed. uiiio-
'GTs=.I - er- lallieSt"
urrpfed my pen, sprang to nv coat and
pNlhscd ny arms frenZte1ly Into the sieeyes
Excuse me, ladies' i, / had fOrroften tho
=, the sex OF your delegation = IL is such a
hot uay - - NoNn q
IfuE6le41 my necktie. The horrible fear came
over Lle Una; / nal Ialled To comb INV hair that
noIhinS Mother accused Lire OF rank neglect since.
ny return IRON Colorado. But caught sipht OF a
04s.Factrd phantom IN the mirror: haDly nv hair
4lthDlTh somewhat frOwSy, bore slnyi,,,tloDs oi
COEDiLg. ee'on" vi
~Gosern0r." said Harold graveIy Let me tntrc-
oCSs "a = Minor, The head OF the delegation"
No" ought 10 have.bo&ei IN a stately way and
ssAQ: Madame, am happy meet Won and to
md th2t Prison Reform enlists advocates At onco
81 lair and capable ' WIZ
But did not say this / observed tha, Me-
MINOR was Il Tall, ufaIrOnly la1y with prov hair
Roman features and pale compiexion yery SIXI
loiiS dressed IN black with " lfIe lace ahSu, r.
tAFOdI ara "flst> observed that her ornnanions
ilOst't sidefty- wei bred, JaSteruily tftirpd
Seif-pOSsesSsd and emiHenJly I.tyIlkf. At The ~.
Were some younger wOHleIl not abe. on, brnnatra
Win n.tSinS Dlstck vs., wearing a brn,d hrim,oaj
nat, WIZ a Tich nd plume and a brocad,ad 10
lto 'ctseS dFts>, with PROPULSION OF r1hbooS g.
I~oAed dentirell over the shoulders of her corr
paiAioils directly into my eyes AID but ms. ~
tuFNSu iIOal S1CL long exile, unused To femintna
PIoAaL1I.t, was instantly beTcft or all senses
stoCG irrt->olute- Mrs. Minor also slond n mo
ment hsS1tatlng- Then as j made a h:,ItiI,r ,novo
Lieni loTNs;sTu she held her sloyed hand Ishioh
lShOok aTkW;trJiiy. N' ""ASa
We ought 10 Ia old friends said 7 ol.nc,n,, .,
broohs, " no DNrled his head in Documents while